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Summary of Media Interview with Art Rooney

Art Rooney II likes the Steelers' blend of youth and experience, and the team president said he doesn't anticipate making sweeping changes after the team's 29-23 loss to Denver in the AFC playoffs.

"It's not a situation where we're looking to tear things apart and start over," Rooney said today in a wide-ranging interview. "I think there are a lot of pieces in place."

The biggest question facing the Steelers this offseason is keeping the core of their team together. The Steelers are around $25 million over the salary cap, which means the team has to make some tough decisions before March 13, the start of the new NFL year.

"There's no question salary cap's an issue," Rooney said. "It's probably as big an issue as we've had to face."

Rooney said restructuring contracts and shedding salary are ways that the Steelers will get in compliance with the cap. The Steelers, he added, faced significant cap issues before the beginning of last season and were able to work through them.

Asked about his overall thoughts on the 2011 season, Rooney said, "We didn't reach out ultimate goal but there are positives we can take out of it and things we can build on. That's the process we're starting now, is to figure out how we get better in 2012."

Here are some other highlights from Rooney's first interview since the season ended:

— He praised Hines Ward but did not commit to bringing the Steelers all-time leading receiver back in 2012. Ward has two years left on his contract but will have to take a major pay cut to return to the team.

"He's one of the all-time Steelers," Rooney said. "Hopefully he'll be a Hall of Famer. You want it end the right way when it ends."

— He said signing wide receiver Mike Wallace to a long-term contract will be one of the Steelers' top priorities this offseason.

Wallace, who is starting in the Pro Bowl at the end of the month, will be a restricted free agent in March.

Rooney also said the youth and depth the Steelers have at wide receiver is "particularly bright."

— Rooney said the Steelers will add 3,000 seats to Heinz Field following the 2012 season. Plans to expand the stadium were put on hold by the NFL lockout that wiped out the 2011 offseason.

— He said he expects his father, Dan, to step down after serving one term as U.S. Ambassador to Ireland.

Re: Summary of Media Interview with Art Rooney

Dan Rooney’s run as ambassador to Ireland is expected to come to an end this year.

Steelers club president Art Rooney told Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette that he expects his father to step down from his ambassador position and re-join the Steelers in some capacity in 2012.

Art Rooney spoke at length about a number of issues, stressing the team needed to improve their scoring on offense and create more turnovers and sacks on defense.

Rooney also mentioned that Ben Roethlisberger needs to take less sacks as he approaches age 30. The offensive line has been a problem spot for Pittsburgh for too long and it sounds like the organization recognizes they need to do more about it.

Re: Summary of Media Interview with Art Rooney

Originally Posted by phillyesq

- New throwback uniforms next year for 80th anniversary

Perhaps, since the "Dark Knight Rises" movies opens in 2012 (with Hines Ward running back a kickoff at a collapsing Heinz Field), they'll bring back our old "Batman" jerseys. Those things are so cheesy, I almost want one.